Vegetable peeler



Nov. 30, 1937. w E, URSCHEL 2,100,793

VEGETABLE PEELER Filed May 21 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR.

A TTORNE Y Nov. 30, 1937. w. E. URSCHEL VEGETABLE PEELER Filed May 21, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTO NEY Nov. 30, 1937. w. E. URSCHEL VEGETABLE PEELER Filed May 21, 1934 4 ShetsSheet 5 INVENTOR.

ATT RNEY.

Nov. 30, 1937. E, URSCHEL 2,100,793

VEGETABLE FEELER Filed May 21, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 A TTORNEY Patented Nov. 30, 1 937 i hurrah STATES rArENr orrieh arteries vlzon'rharri rentals iwiiliam E. Urschel, Valparaiso, llnd. Application May arrest, Serial no. teases it cranes. (or. Me -d9) The present invention relates to a vegetable Figure 101s a side elevation of the holder shown peeler and particularly to that type of machine in Figure 9 also illustrating'a fragmentary section having roll peeling members having abrasive of the drive end of a peeler roll; v v

th reon. Figure 11 is a side elevation in detail of the The objects of the invention include: 'holder at the opposite end of the peeler roller A new peeling machine of improved construcillustrated in Figure 10, the peeler roll being tion having few movable and stationary parts shown in fragmentary section;

thereby decreasing wear, simplifying construc- Figure 12 is an end elevation of the roller holder tion, and increasing its efficiency. shown in Figure i1;

A simplified silent drive for such a machine that Figure 13 is a perspective of a casting support- 1% is totally enclosed yet easily accessible. ing one end of the peeling roller units and the An improved support for the peeling rolls faciliroller oscillating mechanism; and

tating their removal from the device for the pur- Figure 14 is a side elevation of the peeler roller pose of replacement or otherwise. oscillating mechanism with the gear Shown in 15 An improved and simplified method of oscilfragmentary section. 15 lating peeling rolls in such a machine. Like reference characters are used in the draw- A suitable motor support provided with adings and throughout the following description for justable means for varying the tension of the designating similar parts of the device.

drive belts. Support for the whole apparatus is upon a New and improved peeling rolls of simplified frame indicated generally by the reference char- 20 construction. acter 20 and illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3.

A new discharge spout provided with suitable Legs 2! at the right end of the frame are condrain. nected to the longitudinal side members 22 and These objects, and such other objects as may 23 (Figures 5, 6 and 7) of a housing designated 25 hereinafter appear, are obtained by the novel con- 24 and are held in spaced lateral relation by the 5 struction, unique arrangement, and improved straps 25, 26 and all (Figure 2). CO b O elements Shown in the embodi- The left end of frame 29 includes legs 23 held ment of the invention illustrated in the accomin spaced relation at their lower ends by a, strap panyin four s eets o drawi hereby d a 29. The two pairs of legs 2i and 2c are addi- 30 p O t Specification; and in which! tionally braced at their lower ends by rods 3@ 30 Figure 1 is a front elevation of a device which are encased in the tubular spacing mombodvins t p f r d form of the P t bars 3i (Figure ,1). Nuts 32 threaded upon the vention; ends of tie rods 30 draw the legstogether against Fi u e 2 is a i h d elevation of e device the ends of the spacing members 3i. At the left W t respect to Figure 1; end of housing 2% is a casting 33 or otherwise 5 ur 3 is a left-8nd elevation of the device formed member forming a part of such end and wi h re p to Figure anchoring the upper ends of the legs 28.

Fi u 4 is a fragmentary View Of the dfivice The peeling of vegetables is accomplished in taken from the front with Portions of the hopper the present device by the rotary and oscillatory and hous n broken away display the driving action of abrasive cylinders 3 illustrated in Fig- 40 mecha a d Pe rollers, other Pa being ures 4, 6, 7, 8, l0 and 11. If desired, the peripherial in section; portions 340 (Figure 8) of the cylinders 3 may Figure 5 is a detail displaying an end View 05 comprise porcelain in which a fine abrasive 35 is t peeling roller dr ve an O ating mecha baked or'attached thereto in any other convenient nism; method. 45

u e 6 s a tra erse Se o O t machine Cylinders 3 3 may be a single or continuous tube taken on line 6-6 of Fi ure 1 l king in the (11- of porcelain or they may be made up of several rection of the arrows; tubular sections 340. held securely on a tube 36 by Figure 7 is a t n v r ti n o 't e machi collar 31! in' threaded relation with said tube taken on line l--li of Figure 1 looking in the di- (Figure 8) and the collar 38 held in position by 50 reetion of the arrows; the groove 39. Collar 38 may be pressed in groove Figure Sis an enlarged sectional view of a peel- 39, welded in position on the tubes 36 or secured ing member taken longitudinally thereof; in any other conventional manner.

Figure 9 is an end view of the holders at the Washers 40 made up of resilient material may drive ends of the peeling roller units; be disposed between the porcelain members 34a 55 and collars 81 and 88 to distribute pressure evenly over the ends of such members and for their protection.

Positioned at each end of the tube 88 are identical roller bearings 4| held in place by identical collars 48 and lubricant seals 44 pressed or otherwise secured in the said tube 88. This duplication of parts and machining operations greatly reduces the manufacturing costs in respect to the machine. Lubricant seals 44 not only prevent the escape oi lubricant but also protect bearings H from dirt and the like.

At the right end of the tubes 88 (Figure 8) are cone-shaped washers 45 pressed or otherwise secured in grooves 48 forming a V-shaped pulley designated 41 providing means for rotating the peeling rollers 34 about shaft 42. Two cylinders 34 forming a unit have pulleys 41 disposed in position shown in Figure 8, while the two cylinders making up the other unit have their pulley in the position assumed by the cone-shaped washers 45a indicated by dotted lines in Figure 8 or in the position shown in Figure 10, designated 41a.

A disc 48 (Figure 8) pressed or otherwise secured in groove 48 serves to protect the pulleys 41 and 41a from water constantly being sprayed upon the vegetables during the peeling operation. Disc 48 being thin and rotating at high speed acts as a slinger throwing off water at a tangent to its periphery.

Squared sections 58 at the right end of shaft 42 (Figure 8) are adapted to fit into the complemental square apertures 5i in the roller holder- 52 (Figures 9 and where they are secured by washers 53 and nuts 54, 55, and 58 (Figures 5, 8 and 10) The ends of shafts 42 also fit into the circular apertures 51 in the holders 52 to insure rigidity (Figure 9). The arcuate hooded section 58 (Figures 9 and 10) on the extended portion of the roller holder 52 prevents water slung from disc 48 from being thrown upwardly into the drive mechanism.

The squared sections 68 on the opposite ends of shafts 42 just described are adapted to fit in the complemental square apertures 8| in roller holder 62 (Figures 11 and 12) where they are secured by washers 83 and nuts 64. The circular ends of shafts 42 also fit in the circular apertures 85 of holders 82 providing additional rigidity.

Roller holders 82 are supported for oscillative movement upon studs 88 (Figure 3) pinned or otherwise secured in the end casting 38 and inserted in the circular aperture 68a of said holder 82 (Figure 12). Holders 52 are each supported upon a shaft 81 (Figure 5) for oscillative movement therewith, said shaft being pinned or otherwise secured in the circular aperture 88 of said holders 52.

Shaft 51 is mounted i'oroscillative movement in the lower end of support 88 (Figure 5). The uppermost portion of support 88 is bolted to the face of the T-shaped projections 18 (Figure 13) of an end casting II by bolts I2. End casting II is riveted or in some other conventional manner secured to member I88 (Figure 4).

Rigidly fixed in the cylindrical projection I4 of casting 'II (Figure 13) is a stud I8 upon which there is rotatively mounted a spur gear I5 (Figure 14) held in position upon said stud by a washer I8, pin I1 and a shoulder formed at the face of projection I4.

Journal box I8 (Figures 4 and 13) is secured to projection 14 of casting II by the arm 18. Spur gear 88, (Figure 4) has an extended solid hub (not shown) which is journalled in the box I8. V-pulley I88 is pinned or otherwise secured to the extremity of the above mentioned extended hub of gear 88.

Incorporated with the extended hub of gear I5 (Figure 14) is an eccentric 8I upon which rides the strap 82 held in position by the shoulder 88 and the plate 84 secured by bolts 85.

Integral with the eccentric strap 82 is the connecting arm 84 (Figures'4, 5 and 14) whose lower extremity is pivotally connected to the most rearwardly pair of peeling rollers by the stud-like projection 88 on the nut 54 (Figure 8) which fits in the complemental circular aperture 88a in arm Depending pivotally from the strap 82 is a connecting rod 88 (Figures 4, 5 and 14) held in position within the circular aperture '81 of said strap 82 by pin 88. The lower extremity of rod 88 is pivotally mounted in the circular aperture 88 in the nut 55 (Figure 10) which is mounted on the shaft 42 of the forwardmost pair of peeling cylinders 84 in the device. From Figure 5, it can readily be seen that the rotation of the eccentric III by the movement of gear 15 causes an oscillative movement in the two pairs of peeling cylinders 84 by means of the two connecting members 84 and 88.

A base plate 88 (Figures 2 and 4) for mounting an electric motor 8i is hinged upon the rod 82. Rod 82 is secured in circular apertures 88 in leg 2i (Figure 4) and in casting II at 84 (Figure 5) and held against longitudinal displacement by the pins 85 and 88. The motor 8I is attached to the hinge base plate 88 by the bolts 81 (Figures 1 and 2). Keyed to the motor shaft 88 (Figure 5) is a double groove V-belt pulley I21 which drives the V-belts 88 and I88, the main drive for the device.

A guard I8I (Figure 4) encloses the parts of the two V-belts 88 and I88 exposed above housing 24 as a precaution for the safety of the operator.

Although guard I8I encloses the V-belts 88 and I88, it has been hinged on rod 82 in such manner as to allow it to be swung in the clear when belts are replaced.

To compensate for any elongation of the V- belts 88 and I88, and insure proper tension in said belts an adjustment means has been provided. This adjustment means consists of a thumbscrew I82 (Figure 1) in threaded relation with a nut I83 welded or otherwise secured to the base plate 88. Manipulation of the thumbscrew I82 which bears upon shelf-like portion I84 01 the longitudinal side member 22 (Figure 5) raises or lowers the motor shaft 88 due to the hinged action of base plate 88 on rod 82, thus varying the tension in belts 88 and I88. Thumbscrew I82 may be locked in any position by means of the nut I85.

A portion of the housing 24 consists of a hopper I81 having front and back sides 22 and 28 (Figure 6) in common with the left end of the housing, and an end wall I88 (Figure 4) depending downwardly into the housing. From Figure 6 it will be seen that the lower edge of end wall member I88 contains juxtaposed arcuate indented sections I88 out upon a radius corresponding substantially to that of the arcuate sections of the roller holders 82, the faces of which are allned with and complete the end wall of hopper I81 and housing 24. Similarly, at the opposite end of hopper I81 (Figure 7) the wall member I88 contains indented arcuate sec- A spray pipe III positioned within the hopper I01 is shown in Figures 6 and 7. The pipe enters the end wall I08-through an arcuate opening and is held in position by the bolt I I2 (Figure l). The purpose of the spray pipe I I l is to supply a liquid to be sprayed over the vegetables to cleanse them while they are being peeled and to, wash the refuse toward and out a refuse spout I I3.

A cover II4 confines the spray and particles of vegetable peelings or skins within the hopper during the peeling operation. Rivets II5 (Figure 6) serve to pintle ears I35 at the back corners of the cover to the hopper end members I08 and I09.

The peeled vegetables are discharged through opening II1 (Figure 6) at the front side of the hopper I01 and guided therefrom into any suitable receptacle by the spout II8 riveted to the hopper wall about the opening. A hinged door I I9 with its lower edge adapted to fit into groove I20 may be employed for closing the opening 1 during the peeling operation. Slots I2I in ear-like extensions I22 of the door H9 and through which a rod I23 passes coact with such rod to form a hinged mounting for the door. Rod I23 is suitably secured to the upper end of side members of spout H8. A handle I24 riveted to door I I9 provides for easy manipulation thereof. A groove or trench I25 positioned laterally at the end of the spout II8 collects any liquid that might escape while the vegetables are being discharged. Liquid collected in said groove is returned to the bottom of housing 24 to be discharged through spout II3 by means of duct I26.

Nut I 21 containing a circular aperture I28 and in threaded relation with the inner walls of the duct I26 serves to make a liquidtight joint between duct I28 and longitudinal side member 22.

The bottom of housing 24 forms a drain indicated generally by the reference character I28. Substantially all of the refuse which contains waste water and particles of peeling is conducted away through the drain I I3.

Although gear 15 and the eccentric mechanism must be withdrawn before v-belts 89 and I00 can be replaced, the replacement of said belts is a simple procedure since only pin 11 (Figure 14) needs to be extracted and then the said gear and eccentric mechanism may be removed from stud 13 as a unit.

The same procedure is followed when it is desired to remove the peeling cylinder units except that the bolts 12 (Figure 5) securing the supports 69 are also removed permitting the rollers to be withdrawn from the device in a longitudinal direction.

- Door I28 (Figures 2 and 4) at the right end of the device disposed in grooves I29 and I30 of straps 25 and 26, provides accessibility to the drive mechanism. An upward movement of door I28 releases it and permits withdrawal from the grooves. Handle I3I has been riveted to door I28 to facilitate its manipulation.

Motor 9|, by means of pulley I21 (Figure 5) and V belt I00 drives pulleys 41 thereby rotating the forward pair of cylinders 34. Disposed in another groove in pulley I21 is belt 88 which acts upon pulleys 41a imparting rotative movement in the rearward pair of cylinders 34. Belt 99 also drives pulley I06 which in turn drives spur gear in meshing relation with gear 15. Gear 15 actuates eccentric 8|, thus causing the two connecting members 84 and. 86 attached to eccentric strap 82 to oscillate the two pair of cylinders 34. The oscillating or rocking movement of the cylinders is about stud 66 (Figure 3) at one end of the A device, and in the lower extremity of support 69 (Figure 5) at the drive end of the cylinder.

The rocking or oscillating movement of the cylinder which takes place at the time of their rotation constantly changes the contour of the supporting surface of the bed of cylinders, thus permitting all sides of vegetables or other articles supported thereon for peeling to havetheir peel or skin come in contact therewith. All cylinders 34 rotate in the same direction.

Such rotative movement together with the oscillating or rocking motion of the cylinders causes the whole mass of vegetables in hopper I01 to revolve slowly in a unitary mass, thus allowing each individual vegetable to come in contact with each cylinder 34. After each individual vegetable comes in contact with the last or most rearward cylinder, having traversed the others in turn while progressing rearward at the bottom of the unitary mass, such vegetable is carried upwardly to the top of the mass and progresses forwardly along the top of the mass until it again progresses downwardly to the bottom of the mass to be again conducted over the cylinders. This process is repeated until all of the articles are peeled. The rocking movement of the cylinders 34 more thoroughly agitates the vegetables and thus facilitates more rapid peeling. The constant turbulation of the articles by the upward and downward movement of the cylinders overcomes any ten'dency of the vegetables to pack into a relatively stationary group.

Upon completion of the peeling process, door H8 is opened and the vegetables are released through opening H1 in the side of the hopper,

and are guided by chute II8 into a suitable receptacle.

What is claimed as new and ,is desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In combination, two pairs of paired parallel peeling rollers forming a peeling bed, separate pivoted support means for each pair of rollers eccentric to the axes of the pairs, a prime mover, means intermediate said prime mover and said rollers for rotating all of said rollers, and an eccentric connected to saidpivoted support means for conjointly moving said support means to bodily shift all of said rollers to change the contour of said bed while said rollers are rotating.

2. In combination, a plurality of pairs of parallel peeling rollers, pivoted support means for each pair of rollers eccentric to the axes of the pairs, a prime mover, means intermediate said prime mover and each pair of rollers for conjointly rotating all of said rollers, and an eccentric actuated by said prime mover and connected to all of said support means for oscillating all of said rollers about their supports for changing the contour of the bed of rollers while said rollers are rotating.

3.- In combination, pairs of parallel peeling rollers in staggered arrangement and forming a bed, a pivoted support for each pair of rollers eccentric to the axes of the pairs, a prime mover, belt means between each pair of rollers and said prime mover for driving all of said rollers in one direction, and eccentric means connected to all of said supports and driven by one of said belt means for oscillating all of said rollers for changing the contour of the bed of rollers while said rollers are rotating.

4. In a vegetable peeling machine the combination of means forming a hopper, a support associated with said hopper, a prime mover on said support, a plurality of pairs of elongated rollers rotatably and oscillatably mounted on said hopper in spaced arrangement to provide a hopper bed, means actuated by said prime mover and connected toeach roller for rotating it, means forming an oscillatable mounting for each pair of rollers, a single eccentric movably mounted on said hopper, means actuated by said prime mover for operating said eccentric, and a connection from said eccentric to each oscillatable mounting for oscillating the pairs of rollers.

5. In a vegetable peeling machine the combination of means forming a hopper, a casting associated with said hopper, a prime mover assoclated with said hopper, a plurality of pairs of elongated rollers rotatably and oscillatably mounted on said hopper in spaced arrangement to provide a hopper bed, said casting providing a laterally extending journal outside of said hopper, a gear rotatably mounted on said journal, a pinion rotatably mounted on a journal on said casting, and having teeth meshing with the teeth of said gear, a pulley for rotating said pinion, an eccentric shiftably mounted on the journal toward said gear, said prime mover having a drive shaft provided with a pair of pulleys, means forming an oscillatable mounting for each pair of rollers, a connection from said eccentric to each oscillatable mounting, a pulley for each roller, and a belt passing from one pulley of the prime mover shaft about each of the roller pulleys of one pair and a second belt passing from the other pulley of said prime mover shaft about the pulleys of the other pair of rollers, one of said belts passingabout the pulley of said pinion.

6. In a peeling mechanism comprising a bed of peeling rollers for supporting articles to be peeled, means for moving adjacent rollers bodily up and down to change the level of sections of the article-supporting area of the bed, and means for rotating said rollers during such movement, said rotating means comprising pulleys associated with said rollers and driving belt means engaging a plurality of said pulleys.

7. In a fruit or vegetable peeler, a peeling bed comprising a plurality of parallel peeling rollers arranged in an upwardly inclined plane, means for rotating said rollers about their respective axes toward the higher side of said bed, and means for continuously moving rollers laterally into and out of the plane of said bed while rotatingsaid rollers, said rotating means comprising a driving belt engaging pulleys associated with said rollers.

8. In a peeling mechanism comprising a bed of peeling cylinders, means for moving adjacent cylinders bodily up and down to change the level of sections of the article-supporting bed, and means to continually rotate said cylinders comprising a driving belt and driving pulleys, said moving means comprising an eccentric and links reciprocated by said eccentric and associated with said cylinders.

9. In a peeling mechanism comprising a plurality of peeling members comprising a bed and rotatable about parallel horizontal axes, means for simultaneously moving all adjacent peeling members bodily in opposite directions up and down to change the level of sections of the article-supporting area of said bed, and means for continuously rotating said cylinders during such motion, said means comprising a driving belt associated with a plurality of pulleys on said peeling members.

10. .A peeling mechanism comprising a series of paired peeling rollers, supporting means for each pair of rollers pivotal about an axis eccentric thereto, means comprising a driving belt to rotate the peeling members, and means to rock said pairs of peeling members on said pivot comprising a driven eccentric means and links reciprocated by said eccentric and associated with said support means.-

11. A peeling mechanism comprising a series of paired peeling rollers, supporting means for each pair of rollers pivotal about an axis eccentric thereto, means comprising a driving belt to rotate the peeling members, means to rock said pairs of peeling members on said pivot comprising a driven eccentric means, links reciprocated by said eccentric and associated with said support means, and means to position said eccentric, said links being secured to said eccentric means and being maintained in operative relation by the means positioning said eccentric.

12. In a peeling mechanism, the combination of a hopper, 'a plurality of pairs of rotatable peeling rollers, a pulley for each of said rollers, a driving belt for said rollers and associated with said pulleys whereby to drive said pulleys, and eccentric means for automatically shifting each of said rollers bodily in an arcuate path having an axis between the axes of said rollers.

13. In a peeling mechanism comprising a bed of adiacent paired peeling cylinders rotatable about parallel axes for supporting articles to be peeled, means for simultaneously oscillating the cylinders of each pair about an axis parallel to the cylinders to shift the position of each of the cylinders simultaneously to change the level of the cylinders in the surface of said bed, and means for continuously rotating said cylinders, said means comprising pulleys associated with said cylinders and a driving belt engaging a plurality of said pulleys.

14. In a device of the character described, a bed of peeling cylinders mounted on supports for reciprocation transversely of said bed, means for continually rotating said cylinders in the same direction, and means for oscillating said cylinders in their transverse path comprising a driven eccentric means and links freely positioned in said supports, the eccentric means and links being of a unitary organization whereby assembly of one member of said unit will maintain the other members in operative position.

WILLIAM E. URSCHEL. 

